Rabies Prevention Awareness Programme Conducted at Divisional Railway Hospital, Malda

As part of social responsibility initiatives and with the objective of achieving “Rabies Prevention by 2030”, an awareness programme was organised today at the Divisional Railway Hospital, Eastern Railway, Malda under the guidance of Shri Manish Kumar Gupta, Divisional Railway Manager, Malda. The programme aimed at sensitising healthcare providers as well as the general public on the prevention, early treatment, and management of rabies.

The initiative was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Anupa Ghosh, Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS), Malda.

Dr. Asis Kumar Kundu, ARC (Infectious Diseases), Beliaghata General Hospital, Kolkata, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and delivered an informative address. He emphasised that rabies, though fatal, is a completely preventable viral disease if timely medical attention and appropriate vaccination are ensured.

During the session, experts highlighted that rabies is primarily transmitted through the bite, scratch, or lick of infected animals—most commonly dogs and cats. Participants were sensitised on the importance of:

• Immediate and thorough washing of wounds with soap and running water
• Prompt reporting to the nearest healthcare facility
• Adhering to the complete anti-rabies vaccination schedule

The programme reiterated the need for collective responsibility among healthcare institutions, frontline workers, and the community to achieve the national target of eliminating human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030 through awareness, preventive action, and early medical intervention.

The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session and a call for continuous sensitisation drives in the interest of public health.